Issued: 0530hrs Friday 16th January 2015
Duty forecaster: Garry Nicholson

Heavy snow for the Alps


Friday
A cool day for Spain and Portugal, with a belt of rain clearing away from south-eastern areas through the day. Frequent showers in northern and western Iberia, falling as snow inland over higher ground. Showers for the Balearics, Corsica and Sardinia. Heavy rain for southern France, and snow over the Alps. Rain and snow too for northern Italy, although it should be a dry and bright day in southern Italy and Sicily. Dry and bright for Greece and the Balkan states. Thundery showers for southern Turkey and Cyprus. Showery rain in northern and western France, whilst Belgium and the Netherlands are mostly dry until showers develop from the west later. A belt of rain across central areas of Germany, and a lot of cloud. Breezy with showers in Denmark. Cloudy for eastern Europe, but largely dry. Heavy rain and snow in western Norway. Windy and unsettled for Sweden and Finland, with frequent snow and rain.

Saturday
Heavy snowfall is likely to affect the Alpine region overnight and well into Saturday. Rain at lower levels in northern Italy, perhaps also parts of lowland Austria. A cloudy and cool day for western Europe, with showers for the Biscay coast of France and Spain. Heavy rain setting in for Portugal toward the end of the day. Drier with a little sun for south-eastern Spain. Showers in the western Mediterranean and the Italian peninsula. Outbreaks of rain for the Balkan states. A lot of cloud, but generally dry for Greece and Turkey. Cloudy and patchy rain for northern France, the low countries and much of Germany. Some heavy showers near the English Channel and North Sea coastlines. Dull across eastern Europe, with light winds, low cloud, mist and fog. Patchy drizzly and light snow for Poland. Breezy across Scandinavia, with wintry showers, most frequent in western Norway, with heavy rain and snow over the mountains.